Jazz breaking news: Roy Ayers goes back to school
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Vibes player Roy Ayers (pictured) and his band perform a very special concert today, 21 July, when they play for the children at St Saviour’s Church of England Primary school in London’s Little Venice district to highlight the importance of music in young peoples lives and learning.
Ayers, who is currently on a UK tour with his band, that includes saxophonist and keyboardist Ray Gaskins, vocalist John Pressley, bassist Derrick Mcintyre and drummer Troy Miller, will play a 30 minute concert at the school that’ll be recorded by Jazz FM radio and broadcast in the autumn as part of a strand on music in education. “ I am delighted to take time out to play to the pupils at St Saviour’s Primary”, says Ayers. “This performance will resonate with all the children and encourage understanding about the positive influence that music can have on young lives.”
St Saviour’s school has a long-standing commitment to music with a specialist music teacher, weekly lessons and encouragement to develop listening, playing and composing skills, as well as opportunities for performance both inside and outside school. It takes part in the Government’s Wider Opportunities programme which subsidies instrumental tuition for children in years 4 and 6. Head teacher Ms Lindsey Woodford says: “ We feel like the luckiest primary in London this week to have the honour of welcoming such a world famous talent at our school. Each year we have to find increasingly creative ways to raise funds to keep our music teacher and maintain the broad musical learning we offer. I for one am a huge fan and cannot wait to see our children experience this great talent for the first time.”
- Jon Newey